MEERUT, June 5 -- Two brothers died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a mentha processing tank in Badaun district's Suraini Papri village on Friday morning, police said. Another brother, who entered the tank to rescue them, is in critical condition, they added.

The incident occurred under Faizganj Behta police station limits in Bisauli tehsil. The deceased have been identified as Jaiveer, 24, and Rajesh, 21, while their brother Manveer is battling for life.

According to police, farmer Battu Singh had gone to his field along with his three sons to clean a tank used in the processing of mentha, an aromatic crop cultivated extensively in the region. During the cleaning operation, Jaiveer reportedly entered the tank first. Moments...